Are changes in store for Arizona Diamondbacks' bullpen?

In Monday's 7-3 loss to the Dodgers, Bob Howry was charged with three earned runs in the ninth inning of what had been a close, two-run game.

It would have helped had the Diamondbacks discovered a way to reignite their alarmingly cold offense. Relief issues, however, continue to dominate the bad news.

But moving forward, just how safe are any of the seven present relievers that occupy the Diamondbacks' bullpen? Prior to Monday's game, the bullpen had allowed 70 earned runs in 90 2/3 innings for a 6.95 ERA - the worst in the major leagues.

Are there some nervous pitchers on this team who are worried about job security?

"Nervous? Sure," Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said. "Guys are always fighting for their job at this level. I'd rather have them focusing on getting the outs. That will alleviate a lot of the stress and pressure.

"But it's been ugly. It hasn't been an uncomfortable entrance to the season for them. I think the struggles have been pretty consistent. There have been patches at times where we seem to be coming out of it and then we fall back into it.

"But their jobs are not going to get any easier. So I don't know that there's a way to relieve any pressure or any stress or any moments that aren't going to be really big. When they come in, the game is usually on the line."

Hinch and General Manager Josh Byrnes have only tweaked the bullpen up to this point. There have been a couple minor role reversals and a few call-ups and send-downs involving their Triple-A franchise in Reno.

But there's a sense around the club that a major move or two could be made to bring in some fresh and consistent arms to a bullpen that can't seem to stop sputtering.

"I believe in the guys. . . . But it's weighing on everybody," Hinch said. "Whether changes are going to be made or not going to be made, that's out of their control. The front office is going to do what they do and I'm going to do what I do as far as in-game decisions. They just need to worry about getting the outs when they're called upon.

"The standards for what we expect haven't changed. The expectations and belief in them haven't changed. The realities are what they are leading up to the first 30 games or so. We need to get better, that point is very clear."

Walks and home runs have been especially troubling, leading to too many big innings by opponents. Of the 50 homers surrendered entering Monday's game, 18 were allowed by the relievers. Of the 104 walks, 42 were issued by the bullpen.

Hinch said he's more concerned about trying to find ways to help his relievers navigate their way out of their funk than he by slamming them in the media or giving them a vote of confidence.

"What is a vote of confidence?" Hinch asked. "The confidence is continuing to give them the ball. I can't alter a lot of decision-making I have in-game because they're all going through this. Roles can change, sure.

"Handing the ball to somebody different in a different situation, is that a vote of confidence for one and a slap in the face to the other? It's a difficult task. But the vote of confidence to me is, they're still on this team. They're still going to be relied on to get important outs and we've got to find a way to get them."